FNM says, ‘PLP will do or say anything to score political points’
NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Showing support for their leader, Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Senators on Thursday walked out of the Upper Chamber, claiming that the Free National Movement (FNM) administration is creating an atmosphere of persecution.
At a press briefing yesterday, PLP Chairman Senator Fred Mitchell said Prime Minister Dr. Hubert Minnis needs to stop ‘playing political antics’ as they have had to restrain party supporters due to their deeply felt anguish for the government.
Opposition members of parliament stormed out of the House of Assembly on Wednesday after House speaker Halson Moultrie refused to allow Davis to speak on the point of order.
At a press conference later in the day, Davis said the Opposition was boycotting House of Assembly proceedings and as it now stands, it is not known when they are expected to return.
Yesterday, Senator Mitchell said the government must change its course.
“That’s what civil disobedience is about,” he said. “We don’t fight with guns and we don’t fight with swords.
“We use our actions to demonstrate that a democracy is supposed to operate in a particular way, and if you don’t operate in a particular way, according to those rules, then the game can’t go on.
“You can’t expect for me to accept the results of the 2017 election. You want to run around The Bahamas with people calling you Mr. Prime Minister, but you don’t want to treat me with respect. Instead, you want to lock up my supporters…if that’s the game you are going to play; we are going to withdraw our support of that system.”
Mitchell was making reference to the recent arrest of former Urban Renewal Deputy Director Michelle Reckley, who was arraigned in a magistrate’s court on Wednesday with five others over a litany of corruption charges, including money laundering, extortion, fraud and abetment to fraud.
A total of 41 charges were levied at the defendants, which included Reckley, 49, James Nathaniel Hall, 49, Christopher Symonette, 59, Kylon Vincent, 26, Stefanie Collie, 27, and Joseph Lightbourne, 40
James Wildgoose, 28, of Hampshire Drive, was also named on the court dockets in relation to several charges, but he was not present in court.
Meanwhile, the Free National Movement (FNM) in a statement released last night said, “Davis’ erratic behaviour is another example of the woeful PLP’s poor leadership” as they are staging protests instead of working for the people.
“In Parliament yesterday, the opposition leader made a scene on the House floor by interrupting Speaker Halson Moultrie and protesting the government’s recent arrests made in connection to millions in fraud,” the FNM said.
“While the FNM is busy delivering on the promise to eliminate corruption and grow jobs, the old and tired Brave Davis keeps looking for ways to remain relevant.
“Brave could do so by offering constructive dialogue to the conversation; however, he would rather make accusations against the government, take credit for FNM successes, throw tantrums on the House floor and hold press conferences to air their grievances.”
The FNM said this type of behaviour is not characteristic of a political party whose goal is to see Bahamians prosper, but rather one that is blinded by the pursuit of power to the point where they forget why they were elected.
“As is well known, the woeful PLP will do or say anything to score political points but disappears when it comes to making meaningful impact on the Bahamas,” the FNM claimed.
“The FNM will continue to fight corruption at every opportunity, regardless of how it may frustrate the PLP.
“The future of the Bahamas is too important to allow obstructionist like the weary Brave Davis to stand in the way of reform.
“While he and his PLP comrades boycott the House of Assembly, the FNM government continue working for all Bahamians.”
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This story was written by Matthew Moxey – Eyewitness News Online Intern
